Loading mechanism for pneumatic guns



April 22, 1952 c. F. LEFEVER 2,594,185

LOADING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATIC GUNS Filed July 19, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 E I. ET- 1 I I E i so as 24 a i 15155: El E1157... "7

I ls 7 39 5 46 38 323 7 1} 3% r Ap 1952 c. F. LEFEVER LOADING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATIC GUNS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 19, 1948 O f 2 M 3 91k W W J10 WA/IM m w PMHV .J E \H 5 M la H\|PWI m W W m a V r l P mm 2 a m f M N w W W \R 0 1w 3 a 0 Patented Apr. 22, 1952 mime MECHANISM ve PNEUMATIC GUNS Charles 'F. Lefever, Plymouth, 'Mieh., ass'ignor :{to Daisy Mannfacturing' GoiiipahyfPlyinonth, Mich, a corporation of Michigan A'pnli'eation Julyl9, 194s, serial-Ne. 3913s:

1 a V i (This intention relates topneumajtic guns and refers"inoreparticularly to limprovements in the loading "meehanism fprovided in repeating types of guns "for transferring shot from the delivery endfe'f a suitable shot retaining magazine to the ,b ieeeh end oiQthebarreL a The ;p sent "invention 'isfparticularly advanmes n heni sed' in conn ct nw th pneum llnso'f 3 1 t pe;adaptetltoflshoot pellets having i qui iijdhe'ad, portions providedwithian annular rqdve'th'erein anti, having outwardlyfiared skirt portions. Inrepeatingftypes of pneumatic :guns theipjllets are "ordinarily stored in a magazine supnerteja {on the gun .frame to oneside of the barrel and the jdelivery end of vthe magazine is bonnected'to'the'breech end or theharrel by a recess or pocket in the gun name. A pellet from ,thiejdelivery 6nd 'of the magazine is disposedliyithin therecess by tipping the muzzle end (or the gun upwar ly sufilciently to allow "the rearwardmost pellet in the magazine to drobib .avityiintothejlretess. {In certaintypes of pneumatic fgunsfthefjel-let deposited in the ifee'esslis :snbse'qiientlyjtransferred ,to the breech eniiiof@thehatreljbyan rm; pivoted on the gu frame and operable in response to cocking of the gun. I

The pellet transfer arm has a projection which extends into thelrecess or pocket and provision is made ona part "of the cockirig mechanism for holdingthe arm in a pesitioh here the'projelcti'on lies in the'r'ecss at the outer side of the deliveryten d of the magazine so as not to obstruct theflatter. However, upon manipulationofthe eoeking mechanism to cook the gun the arm is swung.,mward1y by "suitable spring means to cause the iprojection to not Onlytransfer the shot in the recessinto the barrel but to also occupy, a position in obstructing relation tothe deliveryend of the magazine.

fln 'pneumatic guns of the type noted above gilfliculty jhas been experienced in repeatedly transierring sl 'ot .rrom the magazine to the barreiwithoi 't jamming ashot or pellet withinthe recess orfwithinthe delivery "end of the mag'a; nine. "Sneh jamming of pe1lets isiusuallycaused lay-manufacturing inaccuracies in the length of the pellets and mayalso be caused by inaccuracies in the width of the transfer recess or pocket which enables the pellets to assume a cooked position within the recess.

*With the above 'in'view, it isone of the objects of this invention toovercome the foregoing objections by providing pellet retaining means whereby nonl-yrqone p11et=at atime may enter the a, Ciairns. (01/1 2'4-51) a *2 y t t ,a recess and any danger ofa ipellets proj'eeti'ng beyond thedelivery endjof theyrnagazinef i ',o the recess where it;may ohstrue'tenormalfgpe ation 'of'the transfer arm is eiirninated, regard less of ,variations'inlengthbf ;the,pellets. I Anotherieaturejof this invention isjto; provide pellet retaining means movable jinto engagementwithfthe next to the "lastfpe llet in "the he. liveryengl qf the magazinefin response 'to In 'Yement of {the transfer armito' its, outermqstjposition y. return movement of the Q pe rat IrfiDr h i b ns m ch ism a r bvable tfqi ti gafge'ment with said pellet in response to inward rnovement of the transfer armby'actuatiqn qf t opera r t rcockthe un- Thu t ejnellet s l rel ed for e y nto .the:. ece or ock a seen. a t oi t onion lth swinsin end of the transfer arm is returned to "its lontern'iost position with respect "to the delivery 'endflof jibe ma azine y. y t a r eree s wel vwasfither ,obie cfts, willihe made more ppa ent as this descriptie pr e s, e pe i ly when "consideredvingc nnection withthje abcomp n neidr n s whrei' t;

sur ;1 is a fra m ntary lefilatio wgdf hejbre'ech end .of a nneumat callylonerated ZrLepeati'ng gun; a Figure 2 is a sectional viewwtakenwsjnh L Q .l l lz-flfiffii l 1 'E su i .l3 s ayi ew similar o Fi ural? .tsnoiwmg therartsihia difterentwp s -twnn .rFisnte-fa isia. ectional View taken in the Llili that i r f 1 1a .cros's line 6-6'0fFigure'5' d I 'Fisur s a c ss .tsec'tinnal vi iw aim the line 'lelfof Figgl e H F r the u pose .of illnstliat fei h ven Qn, I have se jte'd amen. Ytmallyated gun or tne repeatin type-adabtefi tb sfi t n the 'form ofjnelletsi I p ployecl are preferably ,Ojf cdnvntmpn {desi n and are indicated lhy the (reference: Qharaefter l innignre's '1, 1,4 ands. .In general the tenets P comprise a [rounded headt portidn sat one end, an nutwa'rdly flared tiibular skirts at t he.

opposite end anldjanint m diate meant; ing an annular groove G, he

The pneumatically qperated r mechanism at thebree'eh end of the un. Briefly,

the gun comprises a frame In having a barrel II through which the pellets P are adapted to be propelled at a substantial rate by pneumatic pressure and having a magazine I2 within which a multiplicity of pellets P are stored in end to end relationship. As shown particularly in Figures 4 to 7 inclusive the barrel H and magazine I2 are spaced laterally from each other in a substantially common plane.

The rear end of the magazine I2 communicates with a pocket or recess I3 extending fromone side of the gun frame ID to the breech end of the barrel II and having a width slightly greater than the length of one of the pellets P. The breech end of the barrel II opposite the recess I3 is slotted to receive one of the pellets as clearly shown in Figures and '7 of the drawings. The pellet P' next to the last pellet P in the delivery end of the magazine I2 is held within the magazine by a pin I4 slidably'supported in a vertical bore I5 formed in the top of the gun frame and positioned to intersect the inner side of the delivery end portion of the magazine I2 at a point to engage in the groove G formed in the pellet P in the magazine. As shown particularly in Figure 6 of the drawings, the upper end of the pin I4 is secured to a leaf spring I6 extending transversely of the gun frame and having one end secured to the gun frame by a fastener element I1. The pin I4 is secured to the free end of the leaf spring I6 and the latter is tensioned in a manner to normally hold the pin I4 in its raised position. wherein the lower end thereof is released from engagement with the adjacent pellet P'..

The leaf spring I6 is actuated to operate the pin I4 by an arm I8 which has the additional function of transferring pellets from a position in the recess I3 at the delivery end of the magazine I2 to a position within the breech end of the barrel II. The arm I8 is pivoted at its front end to. the gun frame by means of a pin I9 and the rear end of the arm projects over the top of the recess or pocket I3. A slot 20 is formed in the rear end of the arm I8 for clearance purposes and an angle-shaped projection 2I extends downwardly from the rear end of the armat the outer side thereof.

The projection extends downwardly into the recess or pocket I3 and assumes a position laterally outwardly beyond the delivery end of the magazine I2 when the arm I8 is in its normal position shown in. Figure 2 of the drawings. In otherwords when the arm I8 is in its normal position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the projection 2I assumes the position illustrated in Figure 4 where it is out of interference with the delivery end of the magazine.

' Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, it will 7 be noted that the rear or swinging end of the arm I8 passes over the leaf spring I6 and has a depending projection 22 engageable with the leaf spring. The construction is such that when the arm I 8 is in its normal position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the proiection 22 engages the free end portion of the spring I6 and holds the pin I 4 in its lowermost position wherein the lower end of the pin I4 engages the pellet P' in the magazine. In this normal position of the arm 18 the projection 2| at the swinging end of the arm l8 assumesa position in the recess I3 laterally wardmost pellet P in the magazine I2 is prevented 7 from dropping into the recess I3 by a part 24 in that the gun is tilted so that the barrel is inclined upwardly at the time the blade 24 is retracted it will be noted that during the initial rearward movement of the blade 24 and before the arm It is swung to the position shown in Figure 3, the rearwardmost pellet P in the magazine is free to drop into the recess I3 at the inner outwardly beyond the delivery end of the magazine I2 where it is out of obstructing relationship with the delivery end of the magazine. However,

as shownin liigure 4 of the drawings the rear.

side of the flange 23 on the projection 2I. The

next adjacent pellet P, however, is held against downward movement by the pin I4.

At about the time the blade 24 is completely withdrawn from the recess I3, the arm I8 is swung inwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 and the pellet P in the recess is transferred by the projection 2I into the breech end of the barrel. Also, the projection 22 on the swinging end of the arm I8 releases the free end of the spring I6 and enables the latter to withdraw the pin I4 from the pellet P. This pellet P, however, is prevented from entering the recess I3 by the projection 2| on the arm I8. The parts remain in this position until the arm I8 is again swung back to its normal position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings whereupon the blade 24 is advanced into blocking position with respect to the delivery end of the magazine and the second to the last pellet P in the magazine is engaged by the retaining pin I4.

The blade 24 projects laterally outwardly from a pellet positioning pin 25 adjacent the rear end of the latter and is movable into the recess I3 through a slot 26 formed in the rear wall of the recess I3. The front end of the blade 24 is contoured to provide a projection 21 shaped to fit within the skirt S of the rearwardmost pellet in the delivery end of the magazine I2 and to guide blade 24 is connected to a block 32, and this block is suitably supported on a gun frame for sliding movement fore and aft of the gun. The blocl; 33 is in turn connected to a slide 3| in the form of a housing having the opposite side walls 32 thereof slidably engaging the breech end of the gun frame. The construction is such that when the slide SI is moved in a forward direction relative to the gun frame, the pin 25 is moved in a corresponding direction along the barrel II and advances a pellet P from a position adjacent the recess I3 to a position forwardly beyond the. air discharge port 33 to be presently described. As the pin 25 reaches its forwardmost position in the barrel Ii the blade. advances into the recess.

enable transferring a pellet into the barrel and; r

the blade is retracted from the recess .I3.

'Inthe present instance the slide "'31 *"also perates the transfer arm s, and "for this purpose,

the slide 3| Li's Yin itsforwardmost position. The

edge 35 on the arm is yieldablyurgediinto engagement with the cam 35 by a-spring31 having a portion intermediate the ends anchored on the pivot' pin I9 and having the free ends respectiveiy engaging a lug-3-8 *onthearm I 8 -'iand a ing: =39 on the gun' frame. I I

"It will-be noted from Figures 2 and did the drawings that-the -length of thecam 35 3 mm that the arm IBis-maintainedindts normal posinan shown in Figure 2 until the forward end of the blade '24 is retracted from the recesslii in order to enable the 'rearw-ardmost pellet P in the magazine I2 to drop into the recess I3 at the inner side of the projection 2| on the arm I8. As soon as the blade 24 is withdrawn from the recess I3, the cam 35 releases the arm I8 and the latter is swung to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings by the spring 31. As the arm swings to the position shown in Figure 3, the projection 2I transfers the pellet in the recess I3 into the barrel II in advance of the pin 25. Return movement of the slide 3I to its forwardmost position advances the pellet in the barrel to its firing position by the pin and returns the arm I8 to its normal position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. At the same time the blade 24 is moved into the recess E3 and the projection 21 on the blade is engaged with the last pellet in the magazine I2 which was previously released by the retaining means I4.

It will also be noted from Figure 1 of the drawings that rearward movement of the slide 3| performs the additional function of cocking the gun. Briefly a hammer 40 is slidably supported on a rod 4| in a position to be engaged by the projection 42 on the bottom of the block as the slide 3| is moved rearwardly. A coil spring 43 is supported on the rod in a position between the rear end of the hammer and the breech end 44 of the gun frame so as to be compressed upon rearward movement of the hammer. The hammer is held in its rearward position by an arm 45 pivoted at one end on the gun frame and having the other end engageable with the hammer 4B. The arm is released from the hammer by suitable trigger mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 46 and supported on the gun frame.

Movement of the arm out of engagement with the hammer 40 enables the spring 43 to throw the hammer forwardly against an anvil 41, and the impact of the hammer on the anvil opens a valve 48 to enable air under substantial pressure to enter the barrel I I of the gun through the port 33. When this condition prevails a pellet has previously been advanced by the pin 25 to a position in advance of the port 33 so that the force of the air acts on the pellet and propels the same through the barrel at considerable velocity.

The above arrangement is such that each time the gun is cocked by manipulation of the slide 3I, the pin 25 is retracted and the arm I8 is operatedfto transier a"pnet'nomtire derive-ythe magazine 1-2 into the barrei ,I I "cr me magazine in response to swinging movet'ii ent in *advan'ceof the positioning p'i-n 25.

WhatI-claim as my invention is:

=1. A pneumatic "gun comprising-a ham et harrel supported on the frame -and havin'g 'ipiovision at the breech *end for receivingshdtp a shot retaining-magma supported tlie 'frai'iie in lateral spaeed relation to the barre'l receiving "pocket *connecting the 'deliv y xiii of the magaZi-rie to 'the breech end-of-the rrel, amember pivota'lly sueeorted aesneena 6n he frame and having s'hot'tran'sfrring' niean the swinging e d movable through the pocket from a normal position laterally biitwardly be ycnd the delivery end of me magazme toa steitioh adja cerit thebreech end of tlie barrl means e'ngageable' with tl'ie neiit =to 'the last slict -i the member and it's shot transferring mea'nsfln a directi'on toward-the normal 'position afore id thereofand releasable from the shotirr respo 'se to swinging movement of the-member and shot transferring *mean'sin a shot-transferring direction, means disposed in an obstructing relationship to the delivery end of said magazine when said member and its shot transferring means are in the aforesaid normal position, cocking mechanism supported on the gun frame, and operating means for the cooking mechanism operatively connected to said obstructing means and said member so as to operate said member and move said obstructing means away from said magazine prior to movement of said member and its shot transferring means through said pocket from said normal position to the position adjacent the breech end of the barrel. I

2. A pneumatic gun comprising a frame, a barrel supported on the frame and having provision at the breech end for receiving shot, a shot retaining magazine supported on the frame in lateral spaced relation to the barrel, a shot receiving pocket connecting the delivery end of the magazine to the breech end of the barrel, a member pivotally supported at one end on the frame and having shot transferring means at the swinging end movable through the pocket from a normal position laterally outwardly beyond the delivery end of the magazine to a position adjacent the breech end of the barrel, retaining means for holding the next to the last shot in the delivery end of the magazine including a stop movable into engagement with said shot in response to swinging movement of the member and its shot transferring means toward its normal position aforesaid and releasable from the shot in response to movement of the member and its shot transferring means in a shot transferring direction, a pin movable into and out of the breech end of the barrel for advancing shot forwardly in the barrel to a firing position, an extension on said pin normally disposed in an obstructing relationship to the delivery end of the magazine when said member and itsshot transferring means are in the aforesaid normal position and movable away from said magazine 'a normal position laterally outwardly beyond the delivery end of the magazine to a position adjacent the breech end of the barrel, aportion of said shot transferring, means being disposed in blocking relationship to the delivery end of the magazine when said shot transferring means is in its position adjacent the breech end of the a barrel, retaining means for holding the next to the last shot in the delivery end of the magazine including a stop movable into engagement with said shot in response to movement of the member and its shot transferring means toward its normal position aforesaid and releasable from the shot in response to movement of the member and its shot transferring means in a shot transferring direction, an element operatively con- 8 nected with said member and movable into ebstructing relationship to the delivery end of the magazine as said member is moved to its normal position laterally outwardly beyond the delivery end of the magazine and movable out of said obstructing'relationship when said member moves toward the position adjacent the breech end of the .barrel.

CHARLES F. LEFEVER.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 429,106 Emlaw May 27, 1890 981,418 Hazelrigg Jan. 10, 1911 1,057,171 Redfield Mar. 25, 1913 1,146,753 Dickey July 13, 1915 1,677,810 Bond July 17, 1928 1,854,605 Tratsch Apr. 19, 1932 2,320,403 Brewer June 1, 1943 2,499,340 Wells Feb. 28, 1950 

